Machine for cleaning rice



NV PETERS, PHOTO UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER MCKINLAY, OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

MACHINE FOR CLEANING RICE.

Speciicatn forming part of Letters Patent No. 59,432, dated November 6, 1866.

To all whom 'it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PETER McKmLAY, ot' the city and county of Charleston, in the- State of South Carolina, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Cleaning' Rice; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe nature, construction, and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part of this specification, and in Which- Figure l is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 is a transverse section, of my improved machine.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two gures,

This invention relates to an apparatus which is chiefly designed to be constructed on a small scale for family use, and is employed for the purpose of cleaning` ricethat is, to take oft the outer shell and the dark cuticle, which have to be removed to render the rice fit for use.

The invention consists in the arrangement of a pair of rockers within oblong chambers, in connection with a suitable driving mechanism, whereby motion is given to the rockers in order to cause them to exert africtional action upon the rice contained in the chambers.

In order that others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may be enabled to fully understand and use the same, I will proceed to describe it in connection with the accompanying drawings.

B B B represent a strong frame of wood or iron, on which are secured two oblong chambers, I I, I I, shaped interiorly as shown in Fig. 2. In these chambers the rice in its rough state is placed, to be acted upon by the rockers AA, which are caused to rock bythe pendulum or lever C, which is vibrated by the flywheel G and connecting-rod K. On the lower edge of the rockers are fastened strips L of india-rubber or leather, open-grained wood, or any other substance that will increase friction without breaking or bruising the grain. The same kind of strips are putin grooves in the bottom of the chambers I I, as shown at J J, which are left loose, so as to be taken out, in order that the material may be renewed as required.

The vrockers may be made of wood or iron, and each chamber may hold about six quarts. In use they are not to be filled up more than one-third, or at most one-half.

In Fig. 2, m m show the space between the chambers where the pendulum C Works, the same acting as a guide to keep the rockers parallel to the chambers.

These machines may be made of any size and capacity; but the one herein described is intended for family use.

The action of the cushioned edges J of the rockers A serves to quickly divest the rice of its shell and dark cuticle.

Having thus described my invention, the following is What I claim as new herein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

A rice-cleaning machine, when constructed with rockers faced with rubber or analogous substance, and caused to rock upon rubber strips in the bottom of the oblong chambers, and arranged to operate substantially as described.

, PETER MCKINLAY.- In presence of- ARGBZD. CAMERON, JAMES A. DUEFUS. 

